Springtime Natives – Your Guide to Fishing Rocklands Reservoir

With spring well and truly underway, many saltwater anglers are starting to turn their attention towards the warmer months ahead. But while we're waiting for the offshore fishing to really fire up, there's a fantastic freshwater fishery sitting just a couple of hours inland that's well worth exploring.

Rocklands Reservoir, situated on the Glenelg River near Balmoral in Western Victoria, has become a popular destination for anglers chasing two of Australia's iconic freshwater species – Murray cod and golden perch, more commonly known as yellowbelly.

For those who spend most of their time chasing snapper, tuna, whiting or gummies, freshwater fishing might seem like a completely different ball game. However, many of the techniques and equipment are surprisingly familiar, and you certainly don't need to be a freshwater expert to get amongst the action.

Trolling – Covering Ground and Finding Fish

For saltwater anglers accustomed to trolling lures for tuna or salmon, this is probably the easiest technique to get your head around.

Trolling hardbody lures along rocky banks, submerged timber and old creek channels is a proven way of finding both cod and yellowbelly at Rocklands. The key is to select a lure that dives to an appropriate depth and work it slowly through likely fish-holding areas.

Deep-diving hardbodies in the 70–120mm range are a great starting point, with larger offerings particularly appealing to Murray cod. Bright colours can be effective in dirty water, while more natural patterns are worth trying when visibility improves. Downsizing to a 40-60mm profile is best for yellowbelly. 

Great lure choices include the classic Stumpjumper, the Berkley Money Badger, Ecogear SX40 and Daiwa Spike when the fish are a bit deeper. A lot of your classic bream and perch hardbodies work great for the goldens.

Unlike trolling offshore, speed is generally kept quite slow, often just enough to keep the lure kicking hard but no faster. This gives the lure time to work through the strike zone and allows fish sitting tight to structure an opportunity to react.

Keep a close eye on your sounder for changes in depth, bait schools and submerged timber. If you find a productive stretch of bank, don't be afraid to turn around and give it another run. The yellowbelly are a very strong schooling fish and you can often grab several fish from one area just by running laps over where you last hooked up.

Jigging the Trees – Getting Up Close and Personal

One of the most exciting ways to target yellowbelly at Rocklands is by fishing vertically around the reservoir's extensive standing timber.

As the water warms through spring, yellowbelly become increasingly active and will often hold around submerged trees, branches and other structure. These areas provide shelter and feeding opportunities, making them ideal places to concentrate your efforts. And there is absolutely no shortage of timber in Rocklands to search through!

The technique is relatively straightforward. Position the boat alongside a likely-looking tree, drop a small soft plastic, blade or vibration lure down beside the timber and work it with short lifts and pauses. Often, less is more. Rather than aggressively ripping the lure off the bottom, small movements can be enough to encourage a bite. Pay particular attention to the lure as it falls, as fish will regularly strike on the drop.

A light 2–4kg spin rod, 2500-size reel and braided line will cover most situations. The Spinwright Grubbin' jigheads have been specifically designed for this, and match these with a black 2.5" or 3" grub like the options from Berkley, Nomad or Z-Man. For whatever reason, these grubs seem to work better than anything else, so why change!

The biggest challenge is keeping fish away from the timber once hooked on the light tackle. Even an average-sized yellowbelly can put up a surprisingly stubborn fight when there's a maze of branches nearby!

Bait Fishing – Simple, Relaxing and Effective

If you're looking to take the family along or simply enjoy a more relaxed day on the water, bait fishing is another excellent option.

Two of the most effective freshwater baits are yabbies and scrub worms, both of which are readily taken by yellowbelly and Murray cod.

A simple running sinker rig, much like what you'd use when chasing whiting or bream, is generally all that's required. Use enough weight to keep the bait near the bottom and position yourself around timber, rocky banks or the edges of old creek beds.

Live yabbies are particularly appealing to larger yellowbelly and cod, while a bunch of worms is a great all-round option that can produce plenty of action.

One important difference from saltwater fishing is that freshwater fish can sometimes be quite subtle with their bites, particularly when the water is cooler. Keep an eye on your rod tip and avoid striking too early.

Bait fishing is also a fantastic way to introduce kids to freshwater fishing, with the added excitement of never quite knowing what might pick up your offering.

LiveScope – Taking the Guesswork Out of Freshwater Fishing

Forward-facing sonar has become a major part of modern freshwater fishing, allowing anglers to locate individual fish around standing timber, suspended through the water column or cruising along the bottom.

Rather than blindly casting or jigging at every tree, you can use LiveScope to identify fish, determine their depth and present a lure directly in front of them.

This can be particularly effective when targeting yellowbelly holding amongst submerged branches. A small soft plastic or vibration lure can be dropped into the fish's field of view, with the angler watching its reaction in real time.

Murray cod can also be targeted using this approach, particularly when fish are suspended around larger trees or sitting along prominent structure. Cod will rise into the water column at dawn and dusk periods to feed and this is when they're best targeted with swimbaits, big soft plastics, and the mightily effective fly jigs.

Of course, there's still plenty of skill involved. Seeing a fish on the screen doesn't necessarily mean it's going to bite! If you're looking to investigate Live Scope or want a hand with interpreting what's on your screen, give Corey a ring in the Tackle Shack.

A Few Tips Before You Head Inland

Spring is an excellent time to explore Rocklands, particularly as rising water temperatures encourage yellowbelly to feed more actively. Murray cod are another major drawcard. Unlike many of our other local fisheries, Rocklands contains extensive submerged timber, which can be difficult to see from the surface. Take your time when navigating unfamiliar areas, particularly when water levels have changed.

A quality sounder, a selection of hardbody lures and soft plastics, and a couple of lighter spin outfits plus a heavier baitcast set up for cod are more than enough to get started. You certainly don't need a dedicated freshwater boat or an enormous collection of specialist tackle.

And don't underestimate the fish themselves. A solid yellowbelly is a fantastic sportfish on light tackle, while the initial bite and hookup on a big Murray cod is an experience that you'll never forget.

For those looking for something different this spring, Rocklands Reservoir is well worth putting on the list. Whether you're trolling the banks, jigging the timber, soaking a yabby or watching fish react to your lure on LiveScope, there's plenty to keep anglers of all experience levels entertained.

Drop into The Tackle Shack before your next trip for advice on suitable lures, tackle and electronics to help make the most of your freshwater adventure.